Former Allentown mayor Ed Pawlowski greets supporters before his sentencing Oct. 23. A judge on Tuesday denied his request for evidence his lawyer claims was withheld during his trial on corruption charges.

Former Allentown mayor Ed Pawlowski greets supporters before his sentencing Oct. 23. A judge on Tuesday denied his request for evidence his lawyer claims was withheld during his trial on corruption charges. (APRIL GAMIZ / THE MORNING CALL)

A federal judge Tuesday denied former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s request for evidence his lawyer claimed was withheld by prosecutors and could have helped his defense during trial.

Lawyer Jack McMahon filed a motion on the eve of Pawlowski’s Oct. 23 sentencing on corruption charges, claiming prosecutors had not provided data and files from computers used by campaign manager Mike Fleck, Fleck’s wife, who managed his consulting business, and his employees.

He also demanded files from the company’s computer servers, reports and calendars detailing campaign operative Sam Ruchlewicz’s cooperation with the FBI, text messages from two phone numbers believed to belong to Fleck and Ruchlewicz and emails from 10 addresses.

The motion also asked for files and emails from former Allentown finance director Francis Dougherty’s personal computers, which Pawlowski claimed he used to communicate with Fleck and Ruchlewicz.

Fleck and Ruchlewicz cooperated with investigators after being confronted with evidence of their own wrongdoing. Each wore recording devices and allowed the government to record their telephone calls, producing video and audio that formed the backbone of the case against Pawlowski and former Allentown lawyer Scott Allinson.

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Reaction from outside the federal courthouse in Allentown after former Mayor Ed Pawlowski was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (Kayla Dwyer / The Morning Call)

Reaction from outside the federal courthouse in Allentown after former Mayor Ed Pawlowski was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (Kayla Dwyer / The Morning Call)

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Reaction from outside the federal courthouse in Allentown after former Mayor Ed Pawlowski was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (Kayla Dwyer / The Morning Call)

Reaction from outside the federal courthouse in Allentown after former Mayor Ed Pawlowski was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (Kayla Dwyer / The Morning Call)

Louis Lappen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, says former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski has lost everything," including his freedom, following his 15-year prison sentence. (Laurie Mason Schroeder / The Morning Call)

Louis Lappen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, says former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski has lost everything," including his freedom, following his 15-year prison sentence. (Laurie Mason Schroeder / The Morning Call)

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More than three years after an FBI raid at City Hall revealed an investigation of pay-to-play politics in Allentown, sentencing for the probe’s main target, former Mayor Ed Pawlowski, took place in federal court.

More than three years after an FBI raid at City Hall revealed an investigation of pay-to-play politics in Allentown, sentencing for the probe’s main target, former Mayor Ed Pawlowski, took place in federal court.

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Alan Jennings, executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, is serving as a character witness for former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018.

Alan Jennings, executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, is serving as a character witness for former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018.

Allinson, who was convicted of a single count of bribery, joined in Pawlowski’s motion, claiming the evidence it sought would also help his defense.

Prosecutors said the evidence Pawlowski sought had been turned over before the trial or was never in the government’s possession. In the case of Fleck’s and Dougherty’s personal computers, investigators did not search them. Prosecutors said agents did not obtain records for the telephone numbers, one of which they did not recognize as part of the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sanchez said he denied the request because Pawlowski didn’t challenge the government’s assertion that all available evidence was provided and because he did not explain how the information would have helped his case.

Pawlowski, 53, is serving a 15-year sentence in the federal correctional institution in Danbury, Conn. Allinson, 57, was sentenced to more than two years in prison, but was released on bail pending his appeal after about two months behind bars.

Fleck is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery offenses, and tax evasion. Dougherty pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail or wire fraud and has not been sentenced yet. Ruchlewicz has not been charged.

After a six-week trial, jurors convicted Pawlowski of 47 counts including conspiracy, bribery, attempted extortion, fraud and making false statements to the FBI. Prosecutors laid out evidence showing Pawlowski directed schemes to steer taxpayer-funded work and provide favorable treatment in City Hall to businesspeople who supported his campaign. In one of the schemes, Allinson solicited campaign donations from members of his firm after being told a law partner would get a city appointment.

Pawlowski was sentenced on 38 charges after several were withdrawn. He and Allison are appealing their convictions.